No work to do and so bored, what do I do?

Anonymous

January 18,2023 at 4:29PM UTC

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No work to do and so bored, what do I do?

I have very little work to do and often mention during our daily standup meeting that I don't have any work and am looking for something to do. Our company communicates via Slack and I have told my boss and another boss that I am open for anything they would like me to get done but I never got a response.

A couple of months ago my job duties were re-defined by my boss and now my work doesn't match my title. I work in technology and my responsibilities are of a position several steps below what I should be doing.

I would like to talk to my boss directly about this, but we don't have 1:1 meetings. Previously I had scheduled a 1:1 with him (quarterly at his request) but he declined. We don't have any other company meetings or opportunities to talk because he is so busy.

This place is essentially a startup, so we don't have a lot of structure or formality.

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Barb HansenJanuary 18,2023 at 4:48PM UTC
If this company is a true startup and is in it's early phase (bootstrapped by founders and early clients or raised funds), then having employees who have no work is non-sustainable, and I would be looking for another job while you are still employed.
If this company is "essentially a startup" because it, as you say, doesn't have a lot of structure but has revenue, then I would:
-- use the extra time that I have at work to upskill. There are plenty of online training options (free and paid).
-- offer to work on additional projects (especially if my manager is too busy to meet with me, I would offer to help them with some of their work)
-- talk to other managers to see is there is opportunity to move to another team
Good luck, I hope this issue resolves quickly for you.
Becca A.January 19,2023 at 12:34AM UTC
What the commentator Barb Hansen shared is great! I also want to add that, outside looking in, it looks like you're being set up to be removed from your role and company soon. The signs are there by taking away responsibilities from your role, no communication with management or your direct line. I know you didn't list this but do you also feel like you're the last to know about news within the company? Or that company information is being withheld? If so, this is all the more reason to spruce up your resume and start looking with vigor for another job. You can search, "signs you're about to be fired" and everything you shared will be present on every article.
I'm sorry this is happening to you. I hope you don't let this experience overshadow how great of a worker you are and that you find the company that will value you and what you have to offer very soon.
Jennifer FingerJanuary 19,2023 at 2:34PM UTC
I would start looking for another position because it sounds like you're being "quietly fired." No work, an effective demotion and a refusal from your boss to discuss this with you all sound like this employer is trying to push you out the door without actually saying so.
Ann ShumanJanuary 21,2023 at 2:14AM UTC
and they can avoid paying unemployment if you quit.....
Jennifer FingerAugust 3,2024 at 1:26PM UTC
It sounds as though unemployment is going to come anyway, so she might as well start looking for another job instead of waiting to be fired.
Srividya AthirasalaJanuary 19,2023 at 6:13PM UTC
I completely agree with those who recommended you look for other jobs. I was in this exact position for the last 5-6 months. We got new top management who immediately removed a few of my colleagues and started bringing in people from their own network. As part of the old guard, I was suddenly not included in key (informal) meetings and my usual tasks and reports were revamped and assigned to the new people. This is exactly what it sounds like - quiet firing.
I polished my resume, refreshed my profile on a bunch of job portals and started applying actively to other roles. I got a callback from a recruiter some 3 months in, interviewed, and now I'm on my notice period with the current company.
I was very open with my new top management about the reason I resigned - not having enough assigned tasks and wanting more career growth than they could offer. They made all the right noises about potential team changes in the future and possible roles opening up, but it was clear that my career progress was not a priority in the team. I would always be fighting to catch up. I decided I'd rather go with a new org, where I was actively sought out as a candidate and had a better chance of growing from day one.
Now, they are already talking about where they are going to backfill my position. OP, you need to look out for your own career. Your current place can fill your vacancy in a matter of weeks, but you might lose out on months by idling.
Jocelyn LyonsJanuary 19,2023 at 8:06PM UTC
I would definitely talk to your boss, but approach your boss with solutions and let them know what you are doing to combat this idle time. Take this opportunity to do some additional education - like LinkedIn Learning - and brush up your skills and abilities. Make yourself a more attractive employee (or candidate in case you do need to move on from your current employer).
GirlBossanova934974January 20,2023 at 1:34PM UTC
I am in a position right now which only requires half of the work week to accomplish. But I find plenty to keep me busy by watching tons of free Tech Youtube videos and upgrading my skillsets on a daily basis. I do not report this to my manager. I am very happy to be upskilling on a daily basis. In your situation, I would be spending my time interviewing for jobs and getting out of there ASAP. Startups do not the money to keep this up. In my situation, the division I work in is the biggest $$ money maker for the company and we are vastly exceeding our financial targets right now.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 1:38PM UTC
A couple of years ago, I moved into my current position. Although I have times of being busy, in general I do not have enough to do. I offer to assist others on my team and cross teams. I am looking for a position that challenges me.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 1:46PM UTC
I'm in a similar position. At certain times of the year there is way more work to do than hours to do it (but we manage...somehow?), so between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day, and again from about May to mid-July, I get very bored.
I generally use this time to work on any smart goals I have for the year if I haven't finished them, yet. I also see if there's anything I can update, or tweak in preparation for the following year (I work on a school-based schedule so the work year starts in July, technically [functionally it starts August 1]). I find as many free webinars, articles, and other sources as I can and watch/read/participate in them. I also spend more time than I'd like playing on my phone because there is literally nothing I can think to do and my bosses don't have anything for me. (Honestly, my job could be work from home, but an essential part is me answering the phones and they haven't figured out how to make that available when someone isn't physically in the building.)
If you're looking at leaving, I'd say take a few months, research the role(s) you'd be interested in, and use your downtime to upskill for them or create a portfolio (Julie Perrine has some good sources for this) that shows off your skills.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 1:53PM UTC
I take the time for certifications if I can.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 1:56PM UTC
self-development time to sharpen your skills or gain new skills, take on a special project with more visibility etc. The possibilities are endless. With all of the layoffs happening count yourself lucky. Also update your resume because you could be laid off too.
Alex HeltonJanuary 20,2023 at 2:14PM UTC
Linkedin Learning access is offered through many libraries. Whatever you do — reading, free courses, brainstorming - keep a record about it. I am a writer and so I use free time to read up on my industry, write blog entries, post on LinkedIn, ideate. Maybe do a competitor audit and share on Slack? Post related articles too.
Debbie HolbrookJanuary 20,2023 at 2:56PM UTC
Exactly all of this! There is so much at LinkedIn Learning from technical, interpersonal, software and more. Even Slack. The site will give you a completion certificate at the end, and depending on the course you can choose to add those to your linkedin profile. I chose those related to my career path over the years. I have free access through my county library and recently my company is now sponsoring it.
Bradford McCormickJanuary 20,2023 at 2:25PM UTC
I think you are in trouble. Saying you have nothing to do is like a soldier sticking his head up out of his fox hole: It's asking to be shot by the enemy. You can go looking for "something to do" and if your search goes well you may make you own great success and all will be well. Alternatiely you may find the work that nobody else wants to do and then you will be evaluated on that. Are you looking for a new job?
This may be a golden opportunity if YOU can make it be that. But nore likely somebody will figure out your ROI is negative. You are the opposte of the emperor's new clothes story: everybody sees you are naked (and they are probably making sure they are well dressed). It does not help to say "I feel for you".
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 3:12PM UTC
Take the extra time to update your resume and submit it for something more engaging.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 3:20PM UTC
Hi there - I have been/still am in a very similar position (it seems). Here's my advice:
1 Be prepared for layoffs. When this started happening to me, the company was putting pressure on managers to cut costs. And then about 3 months later, there were two rounds of layoffs. Luckily (I guess) for me, my boss got a better job and quit, so I managed to avoid the axe (because between people leaving and getting laid off, it turned into a ghost town in my dept), but I know it was close.
2 Work on your resume and cover letter
3 Upskill during your down time. If you can work on learning something related to your current position, all the better. That way, if someone comes at you about what you've been doing, you can call it professional development or something.
4 Make up work. This was the hardest one for me because it's insane and unfair. But, it's what you have to do. Start writing proposals for projects (even if you know they'll be ignored), crunch some numbers and make some reports (even if you know no one cares), and offer to help out those who you know won't stab you in the back for admitting you're not busy.
That's what I've been doing, and I've somehow remained employed in a similar situation for like 6 months now. Of course, this is all just until you get that new job. Then ditch this place like it's on fire.Good luck!
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 3:34PM UTC
I agree with those saying that it may be time to move on.
While I only have the information that you wrote, I see a few red flags that may be worth digging into and considering if it may indeed be a warning.
First of all, no one is responding to your requests for additional work despite the fact that your boss is "so busy". This suggests work is happening, it is just not being assigned to you.
Your boss also does not appear to want to meet with you 1:1 to discuss ways for you to help meet your team's workload or transition into a role where you could be busy outside their team. This suggests to me that they are not concerned about retaining you long-term or perhaps even that they are uncertain about the long-term for the company themselves. Either way, it seems like a red flag.
In addition, you say that the work that you are assigned is below what you should be doing. This suggests to me that they are giving you busy work instead of mission-critical work. Everyone gets some busy work, but if you are only getting busy work, it suggests your work product is not valued and they are not trusting you with the important, mission-critical tasks that will keep you engaged.
As far as being a start-up, I have worked in a few tech start-ups. This "ignore and hope they go away" technique is sometimes used in place of having a more mature way to handle HR. It is not fair and is sometimes just mean (and clickish) but this is definitely something I have seen happen to others and it never ends well.
AGAIN, I only have a small amount of information. I truly hope I am wrong. But, if you are working in a tech start-up and some of this rings true, it may be time to admit they are not valuing you and look for something else.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 4:47PM UTC
This is great advice. In almost any work environment, there is always something more that can be done, a process that can be improved upon, something that can be researched, or knowledge it would be useful for the company to gain. You can also use some of the downtime to consider if a career move makes sense, as a start-up with no work is generally not a good sign.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 5:01PM UTC
Great responses from the others here. Nothing new to add except best wishes in finding a new job with purpose, goals, and excitement to match your skills and enthusiasm.
Reb562January 20,2023 at 5:01PM UTC
My view: as long as my pay doesn't decrease, I don't care if they ask me to sweep. I have always worked at small companies, so doing task or duties below my ability is almost expected in my experience. I have always taken "slow" as an opportunity. I create my own job, my own duties. Half the time my bosses didn't realize certain things were in place until customers or employees praised them on the improvements. It's to the point in my career that I have created departments, positions and increased visibility for them to grow with my ideas and proactiveness. Now, there are certain bosses were I was told to stop or I need to run it by them, but I learned what I can and can't do and became resourceful by creating my own brand that I was seen as an asset by competitors. So take this as an opportunity how you can help a start up grow.
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 1:08AM UTC
Reb562, I was 'demoted' but kept at the higher salary. So money is not my worth the level of stress in some jobs.
Hated the 'new job' responsibilities and the staff were horrendous backstabbers with no work ethic and acted worse than misbehaved teenagers (all about themselves). I finally went out on stress leave for 6 weeks.... used the time to revamp my resume, and grateful too have found a new job. I returned one day to the old job to gather any belongings and say goodbye to my 10 year coworkers and friends before handing in my resignation at the end of my shift on Thursday. Long weekend and began new job on Monday. Almost 3 years now, and I LOVE my boss, the work, and my salary is almost 20k higher.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 5:16PM UTC
I was in a similar work situation, where I reached out several times for more “challenging” responsibilities. The response was we are working on it. After a few years I resigned. My advice, please don’t wait years! No matter what you hear, things will not change. It’s time to move on! Good luck!
Kimberly GrahamJanuary 20,2023 at 5:41PM UTC
Is there an opportunity to volunteer to help with projects outside of your normal function?
Kimberly HornsteinJanuary 20,2023 at 5:54PM UTC
Do you have Business Resource Groups or Employee Resource Groups that you can assist. I am the President of People with Disabilities + Allies Business Council an always need help with events and projects.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 6:42PM UTC
If I was in your position, I would do a lot of self-assessment and evaluation of my career goals. Startups require people to become "Jack of all trades" and complete work that needs to be done until the company gets better footing to become the mature company with formal structure. Even if I am doing tasks way below my professional level, am I paid the salary that I agreed upon, or am I demoted? If I have a lot of free time, can I go and obtain professional training to earn certifications that would enable me to be more marketable in the current job market? Even if I am doing tasks that are below me, am I given sufficient respect? Even if I have complete tasks that are below me, I would be more amiable to completing them in a startup environment to show "can do" attitude to help my company out. If I was doing similar type of work for a well-established and mature company, I would be more upset. In addition, I would become more educated on how my performance is evaluated. I would be just careful since more and more companies are laying off people.
AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 9:11PM UTC
This! Take the opportunity to learn something new that will make you invaluable in an area that is untouched and improves the organization. I’ve yet to have a job where there is literally nothing to do. There is always something. Those who sit around waiting to be told what to do are the first to be let go in layoffs.
Sidney BristowJanuary 20,2023 at 10:59PM UTC
I had that issue -- not enough to do at work. My supervisor basically took my duties and gave them to another person. I was in grad school at the time so I took the opportunity to do my homework, study, read, take notes and get a 3.8 in my MBA.
AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 4:10AM UTC
ESCAPE!!!!!
Jacqueline McDowellJanuary 21,2023 at 2:37PM UTC
I agree with those that are saying to use the down time wisely. Use it to learn new skills that would be in line with your ultimate career goals. I don't know exactly how this company is set up, as it sounds like you are working remotely. If so, this next suggestion may be a bit more challenging. I would suggest anticipating a need, and filling it. I earned the devotion of my former bosses by doing things for them before they even asked. I looked at my role as making them look good; so anything I could do to improve our "brand" and make us look more professional, I did. Secondly, make sure your requests to get more assignments are documented. If it's not documented, it didn't happen. I would hate to see you let go six months from now with the excuse that you didn't show enough initiative.
mcasterlloydJanuary 31,2023 at 8:48PM UTC
I had this issue when I started a new position. I actively communicated with different managers in my organization and not just my direct supervisor and asked if I could help them with specific tasks, projects or if there was something that I could take off their plate. I ended up with more work than I can keep up with.